New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-21
TEMPERANCE AND REVENUE BOTH.

We have said that the more carefully the
Vedder Liquor Tax bill was examined the
greater would appear the benefits it offers and
the stronger the reasons for Its enactment. 1t
ia tax and not license bill. 1t covers the
whole State. 1t impiDges most forc1bly upon
New York and Brooklyn. From the saloons OF
those cities it derives large revenue which ls
turned into the State Treasury and goes TO de-
fray the expenses of maintaining law and oroer
for the entire Commonwealth. 1t will bear an
alysis both as temperance and as a reVehue
measure. Viewed IN the former light 1t has all
the merits and none of the defects OF the Hlgh
License bill. 1t Is better than the latter be-
cause it gives no foOthOld for the claim that IL
In any way lends legal status or sanction to the
liquor traffic. 1t lays an impOst upon the sa-
looms which is without any circumlocutiOn just
fled by the character of their business. Whie
recognizing the existence of public demand
for drink, which is the explanation of the ga
loon problem in one aspect, 1t appreciates not
less clearly the sinister consequences or the
ministration to this appetite and discriminates
against the tradeas injurious to the general in
terests.
Practical craftsmanship is embodied In the
conception and execution of the bill. 1t 49, as
all effective efforts at the reform of widespread
evils and abuses must be, In the nature of
compromise not concession to the rum power
in any sense, but compromise with the polit-
ical elements which, while pos essing the power
OF determination on this and many other issues.
yet are not sufficiently persuaded OF the need
of radical reform to consent to drastic meas
ures. TO gain the assent OF these elements
whatever is proposed must be moderate. reason
able, and especially must 1t appeal to
other feelings as well as sympathy with tenn
perance legislation. In other words the bill
which will obtain the support of these elements
may be temperance hill. but 1t must be some
thing more. The Vedder bill fills this require
ment. 1t is more than temperance measure
it is revenue measure, and in the latter aspect
it appeals particularly to the farmers and the
people of the interior by offering to tighten
their taxation. The consideration proposed is
not hard. 1t is simply permission for New Y ork
and Brooklyn to curb the saloon power and Sc
cure some guarantees for honest local govern
ment.
There is IN the bill nothing which cannot be
subscribed to heartily and without mental re-
serve by every Republican in the Legislature
who counts himself free agent. There should,
indeed, be Democrats not few whose cOnstlt
uents they know would instruct them, if given
the opportunity, to vote fol such bill. To vote
against it must be difficult even for a case
hardened country Democrat. for in this case the
plainest interests of his constituents conflict
with what he may suppose to be the desires of
his friends the rumsellers. When he goes home.
therefore, it will not be easy for him to explain
his course in opposing the relief OF his own peO-
pie from taxation. This consideration applies
with equal force to all the rural districts, an it
ought to secure an undivided country support
for the Vedder bill. The friends of High Lii
cense. on the other hand, may confidently work
for this bill, for it promises all that the Crosby
act could have given. and in the operation of
the provisions which create interaction between
the local Excise Boards and the Controller in
setting the status of saloon keepers there are
the means of exercising more effective super
vision over the character OF all who pay the
liquor tax than could probably have been ap-
piled under the measure vetoed by the Gov
ernor The Vedder bill is, in fact, good one ;
well calculated to check the drink evil, certain
to make the rumsellers pay for the mischief
they do, and apply the revenue so obtained to
the relief and benefit of the whole State. 1t
should pass with as little delay as possible.